17 Häagen-Dazs Flavors, Ranked From Worst To Best
When Häagen-Dazs first launched as a luxury ice cream brand over 60 years ago, it offered only three flavors: Vanilla, Chocolate, and Coffee. Founded by Polish immigrants Reuben and Rose Mattus, Häagen-Dazs eventually grew to include over 50 flavors, along with a range of ice cream bars and sorbets. These days, the highly prized brand even sells non-dairy, gluten-free, and vegan ice cream varieties.
Although Häagen-Dazs is a "playful made-up name," co-founder Reuben has also cheekily said it means, "The finest ice cream that money can buy," per Häagen-Dazs. One of the things that makes Häagen-Dazs so creamy and delicious is a higher percentage of butterfat, according to Tori Avey. While many ice cream brands have 10% butterfat, "super-premium" brands like Häagen-Dazs are made with 16% butterfat and a reduced amount of air. Häagen-Dazs is also known for its simple flavors and minimal ingredients.
Let's get back to those 50 flavors. While we would love to try them all, our team focused on 17 of the most delicious-sounding, best-reputed, and widely available flavors in stores near us. Eagerly anticipating the purest vanilla, deepest chocolate, and just about everything worth living for in between, we opened up our freezer, put our spoons to the test –– and, unfortunately, quickly developed brain freeze. (No joke! To avoid this, eat your ice cream slowly, per Medical News Today.) Now that we've recovered, here's the scoop on our selected Häagen-Dazs flavors.
17. Butter Pecan
For full disclosure, you should be aware that we've tried many varieties of butter pecan ice cream in the past and it's never been our favorite flavor. With this in mind, it's probably no big surprise that Häagen-Dazs Butter Pecan Ice Cream is at the bottom of our rankings. Regardless, Häagen-Dazs' spin on this classic ice cream combines a generous amount of large pecans with a velvety vanilla cream base.
We think that the ice cream base itself steals the show, while the added pecans act as an unwelcome distraction. Perhaps if the pecans were smaller, more heavily candied, or combined with a sweet swirl of some sort (caramel?), this flavor would be more interesting. But as it stands, Butter Pecan is nothing short of bland. Of course, if you really like pecans, go ahead and ignore us to give this flavor a try. For some added sweetness and crunch, you can always add candied pecans and salted caramel sauce on top.
16. Matcha Green Tea
The majority of our ice cream testers love green tea and had high hopes for this unique flavor. Unfortunately, we found Häagen-Dazs Matcha Green Tea Ice Cream to be rather lacking in matcha goodness. If you're not already familiar with matcha, this green tea variety is grown differently than standard green tea, and the leaves are ground and mixed with water to drink.
This Matcha Green Tea ice cream tastes (sort of) like a mild, not especially sweet, vanilla ice cream. It also has just a hint of tea-like after-taste –– but only if you're really looking for it. One of our product testers, who doesn't care much for green tea, found this lack of strong matcha flavor to be a welcome relief, "Kind of plain, mercifully mild tea flavor."
What Matcha Green Tea does possess is the same lovely creaminess found in all of our favorite Häagen-Dazs flavors, so we can't entirely write it off. That said, texture alone will not help it rise above the stiff competitors below. This flavor doesn't taste bad, but there are better matcha ice creams out there.
15. Pistachio
There are a couple of things that we really like about Häagen-Dazs Pistachio Ice Cream. First of all, instead of using large nuts like Butter Pecan, this flavor peppers countless tiny pieces of lightly roasted California pistachios throughout the entire pint. The resulting crunchy uniformity offers a pleasantly nutty texture, which contrasts well with the smooth ice cream base. We also like the natural approach to this pistachio ice cream –– it is not dyed bright green or pumped full of artificial flavors like certain other brands. Yet despite some potential, this Pistachio ice cream doesn't particularly impress us.
We did some digging online for stand-out reviews of flavorful pistachio ice creams, which ultimately led us to an intriguing Global Traveler review of a local ice cream spot in Miami. The reviewer detailed that the waiter described the ice cream as made from the finest (Sicilian) pistachios in the world, then churned-to-order on site. We're not saying Häagen-Dazs has to do that exactly, but we should be wowed about pistachio ice cream like that reviewer, right? (Be right back –– got to go book a plane ticket to Miami!)
14. Cherry Vanilla
Mostly mild-mannered Häagen-Dazs Cherry Vanilla Ice Cream mixes sun-ripened black cherries into a base of Madagascar vanilla ice cream. Sounds good, right? While we're certainly not going to complain about this flavor combination, it really needs a few more cherries (these are super tasty; why skimp?) and a little je ne sais quoi (chocolate chunks would probably help) for it to rise up any further in our overall Häagen-Dazs rankings.
While we doubt that anyone would be offended by Cherry Vanilla, we generally think that you can do better in the freezer aisle. One option, if you're still craving some type of cherry-themed ice cream, is to try Ben and Jerry's Cherry Garcia, one of the brand's popular flavors. This option deftly combines cherry ice cream with cherries and fudge flakes. Or, if you're open to another red and fruity flavor, go with Häagen-Dazs Strawberry (discussed next).
13. Strawberry
Who among us has not been in love with strawberry ice cream at some point in their lives? Of course, that point is often during childhood, after which many people seem to move on entirely from the flavor. Perhaps this is because so many strawberry ice creams are packed with overly sweet artificial flavorings and colorings. Not so with Häagen-Dazs Strawberry Ice Cream, one of the best strawberry ice creams we've ever tasted.
Here's the key to its deliciousness: Häagen-Dazs Strawberry contains real strawberries, which are chopped into pieces and nicely dispersed throughout the pint. When paired with cream, this allows for a naturally sweet and extremely fruity experience. To further elevate your eating pleasure, we recommend adding some fresh strawberry slices on top.
Since we speak so highly of this strawberry ice cream, you may be wondering why it didn't land at the top of our rankings. Let's just say that it's pretty hard to compete with our remaining flavors, which just get better and better.
12. Vanilla Swiss Almond
It's a pretty simple flavor, but Häagen-Dazs Vanilla Swiss Almond ice cream should please the palate of anyone who likes a little crunch to their ice cream. Each pint contains chocolate-covered roasted almonds, mixed into a tasty base of vanilla ice cream. The brand's website aptly describes the flavor as "Creamy meets crunchy."
Overall, we think that vanilla ice cream, chocolate, and roasted almonds make an awesome combo. (Of course, we wouldn't mind eating the vanilla ice cream and chocolate almonds separately, either.) To fully boost this flavor's potential, we can't help but envision a deep dark fudge swirl to add even more texture and also bring out the chocolatiness of the almonds. But, to be fair, our team is filled with die-hard chocoholics.
If like us, you enjoyed Vanilla Swiss Almond but want more chocolate involved, you may want to try the brand's Vanilla Milk Chocolate Almond Ice Cream Bar. This stellar creation dips Madagascar vanilla ice cream into toasted California almonds, along with a generous amount of milk chocolate –– now we're talking!
11. Vanilla Bean
Häagen-Dazs Vanilla Bean Ice Cream takes the same five simple ingredients of Vanilla ice cream –– that is, cream, milk, eggs, sugar, and Madagascar vanilla –– and adds ground vanilla beans to the mix. When looking inside a pint of Vanilla Bean, you can observe visible vanilla bean flecks throughout, along with a slightly darker base color than most standard vanilla ice cream options.
Compared to Häagen-Dazs Vanilla, we think that Vanilla Bean offers a slightly richer vanilla element while lacking the full milky sweetness of the original. However, these differences are subtle, which is what eventually led to these two vanilla varieties ranking side-by-side on this list. And ultimately, neither one is ranked at the top because, well, they're vanilla.
These days, Madagascar is the leading producer of vanilla, with vanilla being recognized as the second most expensive spice in the world, behind saffron. But don't worry about vanilla ice cream price gouging: Häagen-Dazs and other ice cream makers have yet to add a surcharge for the flavor.
10. Vanilla
Did you know that vanilla is the most popular flavor in the country (via Instacart)? It was also one of Häagen-Dazs' original three flavors. This versatile option can be eaten on its own, used as a base for sundaes, shakes, and smoothies, or placed as a topper for pie, cake, and other baked goods.
While the differences are subtle, we have a slight preference for Häagen-Dazs Vanilla Ice Cream over the brand's Vanilla Bean flavor. This required a LOT of side-by-side testing to determine. (Poor us!) Without the addition of ground vanilla bean (as Vanilla Bean contains), Vanilla tastes even sweeter, creamier, and more delicious than its sister flavor. Also, Häagen-Dazs Vanilla earned first place in our Best Grocery Store Vanilla Ice Cream Brands.
Vanilla is used as a base for many other Häagen-Dazs flavors, but it also manages to stand really well on its own. In fact, eating it solo is probably the best way to fully appreciate the flavor. That said, the truth is that we are planning on serving the rest of our pint with warm, fresh-baked apple pie. (Is your mouth watering yet?)
9. Rocky Road
Here's another good one for people wanting some crunch to their ice cream. Häagen-Dazs Rocky Road Ice Cream provides a high-quality spin on this classic, beloved flavor. Many of us have fond memories of eating Rocky Road ice cream, which was among the first ice cream flavors adding mix-ins, per Mashed. Rocky Road has a complicated backstory, with two different ice cream makers, Dreyer's and Fentons Creamery, claiming to be the first to develop and market the flavor.
Unlike some other Rocky Road brands, Häagen-Dazs uses a marshmallow swirl instead of actual marshmallow pieces. This adds a fun, sticky texture alongside crunchy roasted almonds and rich, creamy chocolate ice cream. While we generally like sweet things, this flavor may be a little too sweet for some due to the generous amount of marshmallow swirl. If you love your sugar, then by all means dig in. But if the thought of marshmallow goo makes you gag, we strongly recommend going with another Häagen-Dazs flavor.
8. Cookies & Cream
"If this is the way the cookie crumbles, we love it," states the website for Häagen-Dazs Cookies & Cream Ice Cream. We like this flavor quite a lot, but probably wouldn't go as far as to use the word "love." Cookies & Cream starts off with a base of rich and creamy vanilla ice cream, then adds some fairly substantial chunks of chocolate cookies, which are super tasty. We mostly draw the line on using the word love because these cookie chunks are not uniformly distributed throughout the container.
One taster noted, "I wouldn't mind more smaller chunks throughout, instead of fewer larger ones unevenly clumped together." Another taster, the lucky recipient of more-than-their-fair-share of yummy chocolate cookies, ultimately ranked this flavor higher than others who were left with mostly plain vanilla ice cream. To clarify, there's nothing wrong with vanilla ice cream, except that this flavor is supposed to be cookies AND cream. Do you see how easily problems can develop when the cookie doesn't crumble evenly?
7. Chocolate
Häagen-Dazs Chocolate Ice Cream, one of the brand's original three flavors, has strongly weathered the test of time. And while we'd venture to say that most chocolate ice creams are pretty darn good, this one is particularly delicious. To make this popular flavor, Häagen-Dazs uses only five simple ingredients: cream, skim milk, cane sugar, cocoa processed with alkali, and egg yolks. The result is a smooth, creamy, and decadent chocolate delight that makes it really hard not to eat the entire pint in one sitting.
Just what is it about chocolate ice cream that makes us go all warm and fuzzy inside? Amy Jo Stavnezer, a professor of psychology and neuroscience, explains why we crave chocolate (via Psychology Today), "We crave chocolate because it is good! It tastes good. It smells good. It feels good when it melts on our tongue. And all of those 'feelings' are the result of our brain releasing chemicals in response to each chocolate experience. The experience of eating chocolate results in feel-good neurotransmitters (mainly dopamine) being released in particular brain regions."
6. Coffee
Coffee Ice Cream, made from Brazilian coffee beans, milk, eggs, cream, and sugar, is another of the original three flavors produced by Häagen-Dazs. The recipe has remained unchanged to this day. Now, here's the big thing to know about this flavor: If you don't like coffee, you're probably not going to like it. (Fortunately for us, we really like coffee.) Overall, our tasters found the flavor to be rich, creamy, and, as indicated, very coffee-like.
If you enjoy consuming coffee to help wake you up, you may be tempted to reach for this ice cream at an inappropriately early hour. (Ice cream for breakfast, anyone? We don't judge.) However, you should be aware that a serving of this flavor contains 19 milligrams of caffeine, which is similar to drinking a cup of instant coffee (via Caffeine Informer). For comparison, a standard cup of coffee contains between 80 and 100 milligrams of caffeine, per the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.
If you're looking for a significant caffeine jolt, this ice cream flavor probably isn't it. However, there are plenty of other reasons to eat Häagen-Dazs Coffee. And guess what pairs really well with a scoop of cold coffee creaminess? That's right –– a cup of steaming Joe.
5. Dulce de Leche
In 1998, Häagen-Dazs set out to turn South America's most beloved confection –– dulce de leche, a type of caramelized milk sauce –– into an ice cream flavor, per Häagen-Dazs. The company soon discovered that the exact taste and texture of dulce de leche were difficult to emulate in a frozen treat. Instead, Häagen-Dazs created a "thicker, richer caramel that holds up to the ice cream and still transports you to another place." Although that place may not actually be South America, the experience is just as adventurous.
Häagen-Dazs Dulce de Leche Ice Cream is sweet (possibly a little too sweet for some), sticky, and satisfying. The ooey-gooey milk caramel nicely compliments a rich base of creamy caramel ice cream. Our testers felt that the dulce de leche to ice cream ratio was spot on, but there's always the option to add some extra sauce on top if you're a caramel super-fan. Caramel lovers out there should also know that Häagen-Dazs offers two related flavors: Caramel Cone and Honey Salted Caramel Almond.
4. Mint Chip
While it's hard to go wrong with one of our favorite flavors, Häagen-Dazs definitely goes right with Mint Chip Ice Cream. This classic flavor option involves mint-infused sweet cream mixed with chocolate chips. The result is creamy, minty, chocolaty, and divine. What more could you ask for, other than a larger container? Our product testers commented: "fresh and minty," "heavenly," and "exactly the right amount of chocolate chips."
The concept of mint chocolate has ancient origins. More recently, in 1973, a culinary student named Marilyn Ricketts won a contest in England resulting in her Mint Royale creation being served at Princess Anne's wedding, per Desert Chill Ice Cream. The flavor gained fame from there, and the rest is, well, history.
If you like Mint Chip, you may also enjoy Häagen-Dazs Peppermint Bark Ice Cream. This limited-edition flavor combines white chocolate ice cream, chocolate peppermint bark, and peppermint candy. What could go wrong? Unfortunately, you can't buy this flavor year-round, and it wasn't yet available in stores near us to be included in this rankings. If you love peppermint goodies, be sure to check out our recipes for Peppermint Bark and Peppermint Ice Cream. You can make them at any time of the year.
3. Chocolate Peanut Butter
Just when we thought things couldn't get any better, we opened up our pint of Häagen-Dazs Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream. Wow, where to begin? On the brand's website, this flavor is described as "Ridiculously rich chocolate, ridiculously decadent peanut butter, just a bit ridiculous." Indeed, this is not a ridiculous description of one of our favorite Häagen-Dazs flavors.
While first peeking under the lid, one of our tasters commented that "it looks just like chocolate ice cream." However, they soon discovered that looks can be deceiving. Hidden within all of that innocent-looking chocolate ice cream swirled a significant (perhaps ridiculous?) amount of peanut butter pieces. And, unlike some other ice cream brands' chocolate peanut butter varieties, Häagen-Dazs does not hit you over the head with massive chunks of crunchy peanut butter. We're looking at you, Baskin Robbins Peanut Butter 'N Chocolate.
Quick point of clarification: We didn't mean to imply that getting hit over the head with massive chunks of crunchy peanut butter is a horrible experience. It's not. Peanut butter lovers everywhere should definitely try it. But Häagen-Dazs takes a more subtle, melt-in-the-mouth approach that we also really liked. Perhaps the most important takeaway here is that chocolate and peanut butter are best friends for a reason. If you like them both (and who doesn't?), then you're probably going to freak out over this decadent flavor.
2. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
Häagen-Dazs Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream almost made us cry — but in a good way. It starts out with a base of the brand's signature vanilla ice cream, then mixes in "bites of buttery cookie dough and sweet fudge chips." While it's hard to complain very much about such a winning combo that is executed so well, we do have some thoughts about how this flavor could be even better.
One of our product testers pointed out that the cookie dough and chocolate chunks were not uniformly dispersed throughout the container. (We've seen this chaos before, Häagen-Dazs.) On the plus side, you're probably going to be pretty happy if you dig into a spot containing an excess of cookie dough and chocolate chunks. If not, well, we hope that you at least like vanilla ice cream.
To boost this flavor up and above our absolute top pick, we call on Häagen-Dazs to put a little more effort into mixing things up evenly. Otherwise, it's just way too tempting to spoon around for more of the chunky bits, leaving plain vanilla ice cream behind for the next taker.
1. Double Belgian Chocolate Chip
We should probably confess that based on the name alone, our chocolate-loving team was pretty much already sold on Häagen-Dazs Double Belgian Chocolate Chip Ice Cream as a top contender for these rankings. The good news is that the reality of the flavor lived up to our anticipation. This deep, dark, divine chocolate creation mixes a gazillion crunchy Belgian chocolate flecks into a rich and wonderful chocolate ice cream base. Overall, this flavor reminded us quite a lot of Talenti Double Dark Chocolate, which was the number one pick of our favorite Talenti flavors.
Although we're not entirely sure that anything else needs to be said, we'll leave you with these parting words. First of all, since we've complained multiple times about Häagen-Dazs' lack of uniform distribution of add-ins for other flavors, we want to be clear that Double Belgian Chocolate Chip got the distribution exactly right. We found plenty of yummy chocolate flecks in each and every bite, throughout the entire pint. Secondly, we want to clarify that we wouldn't change a single thing about this flavor. It is absolutely perfect exactly as it is. And finally, our pint of Double Belgian Chocolate Chip is long gone –– and we're anxious to head back to the store for more. Whichever Häagen-Dazs flavor you ultimately choose, we hope you love it!